IRVING, TX – The Alfred University women's volleyball team ended its Saxon Nation Texas trip with a pair of three-set losses on Saturday morning.
 
The Saxons (4-9, 0-0 Empire 8) were defeated by Schreiner University and McMurry University on Saturday. "Today's character was way better than yesterday but we struggled to execute in moments that were crucial," Head Coach Dakota Pruiss said. "We are still learning and growing with six newcomers into the lineup so I'm excited to get into the gym this week to work on some things as we roll into our home tournament."
 
Match One:
Alfred University – 0 | Schreiner University – 3
AU Set Scores: (26-28, 22-25, 14-25)
 
Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) recorded another double-double as she had 11 kills and 10 digs and then tacked on two aces and seven set assists. Sarah Raeman (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) followed with her own 11 kills for 11.0 points while chipping in three digs.
 
Darian Ortiz (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michael's) led Alfred University with 14 digs while scoring 3.0 points from two aces and one kill as she also recorded two assists.
 
Schreiner held a 17-13 lead in the first set before AU scored four in a row to tie it up. Schreiner then built some distance in the lead with a 5-2 run, making it a 22-19 set. AU responded with a 7-3 run to go up, 26-25. Three unanswered kills from Schreiner closed out the set.
 
It was similar in the second set, as Schreiner had a 22-18 lead before the Saxons scored three, unanswered points with one from a kill by Raeman. They capped off the set with three kills with the Saxons having one from Raeman.
 
Match Two:
Alfred University – 0 | McMurry University – 3
AU Set Scores: (14-25, 24-26, 20-25)
 
Smith had 12 kills and two block assists for 13.0 points. Amanda Burns (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) led AU on the day with 16 set assists from the nightcap match. She tacked on two aces for 2.0 points with five digs. Sarah Huzyk (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) recorded 10 digs in the match to pace the Saxons.
 
The Saxons jumped out to an early lead after falling in the first set with a 5-1 advantage with two kills from Smith, one from Raeman (Burns assists on all three) and an ace from Ortiz. They kept the lead all the way until the score was built to a 22-15 advantage for the Purple & Gold.
 
McMurry put together an 11-2 run with 10 kills during the spree to close out the set and eventually, the match.
 
The Saxons will next have their first home matches on Friday, September 20 as they host Hilbert College at 4 p.m. before taking on Grove City at 6 p.m. during the Saxon Classic Tournament.